Cabot Tower, Bristol
| Cabot Tower | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The tower, viewed from Brandon Hill park. | |
  Location within Bristol | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Gothic |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′14″N 2°36′24″W / 51.4540°N 2.6068°W |
| Construction started | June 1897 |
| Completed | July 1898 |
| Cost | £3250 |
| Height | 105 feet (32 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Red sandstone, Bath Stone |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Venn Gough |
Cabot Tower is a tower in Bristol, England, situated in a public park on Brandon Hill, between the city centre, Clifton and Hotwells. It is a grade II listed building.[1][2]
The 105 feet (32 m) high tower was built, on the site of a previous chapel and windmill, in the 1890s to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the journey of John Cabot from Bristol to land which later became Canada. Public access to the viewing platforms at the top of the tower via the staircase was stopped in 2007 as it had become unsafe. It reopened in 2011.
History
The tower stands on the site of a medieval chapel which may have belonged to St James' Priory. During the 16th century the chapel was replaced by a windmill.[3]
The tower was constructed in memory of John Cabot, 400 years after he set sail in Matthew from Bristol and landed in what was later to become Canada. It was paid for by public subscription. The foundation stone was laid on 24 June 1897 by the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava and the tower was completed in July 1898.[4] The architect was William Venn Gough and it was built by Love and Waite[5] of Bristol. A lift was originally planned but never installed.[6]
The tower gives its name to the area and Council ward of Cabot.
Restoration
After closure to the public in 2007, the tower reopened on 16 August 2011 following completion of repair works costing an estimated £420,000 to cracked stonework, caused by corroded reinforcing steel in the floor of the viewing platform, which had made the tower unsafe.[7] Planning consent for the repairs was granted by Bristol City Council in November 2010.[8][9]
The final stage of the restoration was completed in 2014 when a light flashing the word "Bristol" in Morse code was turned back on.[10]
Architecture
The tower is 105 feet (32 m) high and built from red sandstone with cream Bath Stone for ornamentation and emphasis. It consists of a spiral staircase and two viewing platforms where balconies with wrought iron railings overlook the city, the higher of which is approximately 334 feet (102 m) above sea level. The tower is supported by diagonal buttresses. The top of the tower is supported by flying buttresses and surmounted by an octagonal spirelet topped with a ball finial and carved winged figure, which represents commerce.[2][6]
On three sides of the base of the tower are commemorative plaques. They read as follows:
"The foundation stone of this tower was laid by the Marquess of Dufferin & Ava on the 24 June 1897, And the completed tower was opened by the same nobleman on the 6 September 1898. W.Howell Davies, Chairman of the executive committee E.G.Clarke, J.W.Arrowsmith Hon. Secretaries"
"This tablet is placed here by the Bristol branch of the Peace Society in the earnest hope that peace and friendship may ever continue between the kindred peoples of this country and America"
"Glory to God in the highest and on Earth, peace, good will towards men' Luke 2.14"
"This tower was erected by public subscription in the 61st year of the reign of Queen Victoria to commemorate the fourth centenary of the discovery of the continent of North America, on June 24, 1497, by John Cabot.
Who sailed from this port in the Bristol ship Matthew, with a Bristol crew, under letters patent granted by King Henry VII to that navigator and his sons Lewis, Sebastian and Sanctus"
See also
- Cabot Tower (Newfoundland)
- Dingle Tower, Nova Scotia - bronze plaque to John Cabot
References
- ↑ "Cabot Tower". Images of England. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
- 1 2 Historic England. "Cabot Tower (1202009)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ↑ "Cabot Memorial Tower". Pastscape. English Heritage. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Cabot Tower". About Bristol. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Cabot Tower Builders". The Cabots and the Discovery of America. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
- 1 2 "Cabot Tower". Bristol Link. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "Bristol's Cabot Tower repairs get £200,000 boost". BBC News. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ↑ "Minutes of the meeting of the conservation advisory panel held on Monday 15 November 2010" (PDF). Bristol City Council. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ↑ "Cabot Tower in Bristol reopens after £420,000 of work". BBC. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ Emanuel, Louis (4 February 2014). "Bristol's Cabot Tower to send out Morse code message again". Bristol Post. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
External links
Media related to Cabot Tower (Bristol) at Wikimedia Commons